Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday visited Bisara village in Greater Noida and met the family members of a man who was lynched for allegedly eating beef.
Met the family of Mohd Akhlaq and expressed my deepest condolences
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 3, 2015
Gandhi visited the village on the same day Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and other politicians met victim Akhlaq’s family members.
(Also read: Kejriwal meets Dadri victim’s family, calls lynching ‘unfortunate’)
Congress VP Rahul Gandhi meeting villagers in Bisada, Dadri pic.twitter.com/rzeSWUcecu
— Congress (@INCIndia) October 3, 2015
Some locals protested sudden the upsurge in the number of visitors to the village, including politicians and media persons, since Monday night when the incident happened.
Kejriwal was initially stopped by the local administration and the police in view of simmering tension, before being allowed to meet the victim’s family.
(Also read: Politics over Dadri killing: Kejriwal stopped from entering village)
Was touched by the desire of people in Bisada to maintain harmony.This spirit will help the country go through tough times
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 3, 2015
Commenting on Gandhi’s visit, Congress leader RPN Singh said, “I am proud that Rahul Gandhi is there in Dadri. He has raised his voice against such condemnable act.”
It is very sad to see the trust and harmony built over decades, destroyed by the politics of hate
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 3, 2015
On Monday night, following rumours of cow slaughter, 50-year-old Akhlaq was killed by a mob in Greater Noida’s Bisara village just outside his house.
As tension gripped the village and also spread to nearby areas, another mob went on the rampage on Tuesday morning in Ooncha Amirpur, barely 5km from Bisara, demanding death penalty for those involved in cow slaughter.
District Magistrate MP Singh had claimed that the situation was under control and reasoned that the incident should be treated as a “solitary case” and not a communal clash as no other Muslim family was affected.
Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha also termed the lynching case as an “unfortunate incident” and added that his officers were in touch with the family.
Minister of home affairs of India also commented on Dadri incident saying:
Report aane dijiye, kyunki iss par bahut zyaada rajneeti ho rahi hai :Kiren Rijiju, MoS Home on #DadriIncident pic.twitter.com/rwrpA6U4DX
— ANI (@ANI) October 3, 2015
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 20 lakh to the kin of deceased.
In another development, the Uttar Pradesh police on Saturday arrested two main accused – Shivam and Vishal – in connection with the lynching.